14:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 15 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (registered As The Festival Trophy)

  • 5YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 4f 166y  |   Soft (Heavy in places)  |   6 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 14:50  |   Winning time: 5m 23.3s
1st
Horse silk
1
8/1
T: H De BromheadJ: D N Russell
Held up in touch on outside, closed 8th, went 3rd from 10th, 2nd from 12th, led 3 out, clear when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well flat op 11/1
2nd
Horse silk
4 ½
7
8/11f
T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend
Raced enthusiastically, tracked leaders, challenged 5th, led next, clear 8th until 4 out, headed 3 out, no impression on winner last, kept on tchd 4/5 in places
3rd
Horse silk
8
2
10/1
T: Ruth JeffersonJ: B S Hughes
Held up in last, not fluent 11th, closed to chase leading pair 13th, shaken up after 3 out, no impression 2 out op 11/1 tchd 12/1
4th
Horse silk
15
6
18/1
T: H De BromheadJ: S W Flanagan
Prominent, not fluent 7th, lost 2nd 12th, outpaced next, weakened 3 out op 16/1 tchd 22/1 in places
5th
Horse silk
9
5
611-10
9/1
T: P F NichollsJ: Sam Twiston-Davies
Held up, went 4th 11th, not fluent 13th, outpaced 4 out, weakened after 4 out op 8/1

Also Ran

PU
Horse silk
3
1211-10
9/2
T: C L TizzardJ: P J Brennan
Led until 6th, pushed along before 10th, soon lost place, eased and pulled up before 12th op 5/1

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Non-Runners

4
Horse silk
Douvan365
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 8
T: W P Mullins  J: Unknown Jockey
NR

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£9.80Pl:£3.20, £1.30EX:£15.10Trifecta:£70.90SF:£15.10Swingers:£1.50, £5.20, £1.80

Forecasts

Un De Sceaux (8/11), Douvan (4/1), Cue Card (9/2), Balko Des Flos (8/1), Frodon (9/1), Cloudy Dream (10/1), Sub Lieutenant (18/1)

Verdict

An intriguing contest where despite the dominance of UN DE SCEAUX, you could make a case for all of the other likely five runners. Last year’s winner does look the most likely victor again having looked in good form of late over shorter trips and if the ground does stay testing it should suit. A win for Cue Card would bring the house down and provide what would be a likely fitting end to his career but he may just come up short. Balko Des Flos acts on this ground but may just prefer a firmer surface while it remains to be seen if Frodon and Cloudy Dream can handle a test such as this.
  1. Un De Sceaux
  2. Balko Des Flos
  3. Cue Card

Prize Money

1st: £199,325.002nd: £74,795.003rd: £37,450.004th: £18,655.005th: £9,380.006th: £4,690.00

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